Sly's Panthers

[sly]

new sub enclosure... Polyfill wrapped in cheesecloth stuffed... same old speakers

[sly]

nope. It may just be an un-used panel mount location too. It looks exactly like the other two that the sail panels actually use except there's no hole in it.

[1987cp]

Weird, I've never known people to up and unbuckle with the car in motion.

Did you get a picture of this stock mounting boss you speak of?

[sly]

the mounting points in the rear deck were not reinforced, but are double layer sheet... so most backseat riders should have no issues. The hanger is mounted with large 1/8" thick washers that are from electrical switch installations (those HUGE green boxes on the ground that carry 13KV electrical lines)... so they're grade 10+ or something obnoxious. There was a stock boss, but I would have needed to create an angled mount to get to that one and still be able to retract. I figure this setup is good for one full impact collision and would need to be rebuilt with the car... and I'd just strip it and scrap it at that point anyhow. And this setup won't be prone to people unbuckling while the car is in motion as the old constrictor lap belts are prone to being jacked with.

[1987cp]

Hotlinked pics no worky for me ... weird. I copied the URLs from the Reply With Quote dialog and had a look anyway.

Are you the first person to actually do this? I recall posting some time ago asking if it were possible, but this is the first time I know of someone actually adding shoulder belts to a pre-'90 Panther.

As for the mount points, were you able to find any factory provisions on the metalwork itself? Hopefully the mounting areas were at least well reinforced, even if the holes weren't drilled/tapped/squarehead-nut-on-a-plate-added-on-the-backside-like-for-other-belt-mount-points.

3-point belts installed in the back. That was a PITA and I burned up my Dremel in the process (bearings were already on their way out anyhow). Got a cheapy Harbor Freight one to finish the job. Went though about 5 Dremel metal disks in all.

Anyhoo... pics:

[GoodSamaritan]

it's actually pretty good. I got the variable speed corded one. all the dremel bits will work fine (comes with 1/8 and 1/16 collets). none of the attachments will work that require the square drive as the thread is different on the HF one.

oh... FYI... the seats are beige/tan/faded... not grey. not that it matters... that interior is rather crap.

Ironically, I keep saying our 99 is tan, and my wife insists it is grey. I looked up the color code for the interior, and she's right. It sill looks tan to me.

[sly]

it's actually pretty good. I got the variable speed corded one. all the dremel bits will work fine (comes with 1/8 and 1/16 collets). none of the attachments will work that require the square drive as the thread is different on the HF one.

oh... FYI... the seats are beige/tan/faded... not grey. not that it matters... that interior is rather crap.

[GoodSamaritan]

I kinda like the blue belts on the gray seats. How is the harbor freight dremel wannabe tool? I've been considering picking one up for a freind who's always borrowing my dremel.

[sly]

3-point belts installed in the back. That was a PITA and I burned up my Dremel in the process (bearings were already on their way out anyhow). Got a cheapy Harbor Freight one to finish the job. Went though about 5 Dremel metal disks in all.

Anyhoo... pics:

[sly]

90 TC fan shroud and tank are in the Mark VI now. Had to make brackets to mount to the non-stock radiator... but it fits... BARELY. The transmission lines that go to the radiator are mildly against the coolant tank after some persuasion, instead of blocking it. No more cheapo ugly ass universal coolant tank! WOOT!

[1987cp]

And probably many phrases not found in the Bible!!

Dobby's sock!

[sly]

Still haven't touched the Lincoln... maybe tomorrow... got the hitch for the vic in and on the car today.
pics:

mockup and drilling done


all bolted up with the mangled mess of the bolt fish line on the ground (the last bolt didn't wanna go)


done

[sly]

yeah... but this is all just labor. The clutch is under warranty and the vacuum lines... time consuming. I'm getting NO vacuum after "at temp" soak to the vent controls. I think the line through the firewall may have collapsed. That's gonna be a bitch to bypass.

[SVT98t]

seems like these problems just keep rotating through your fleet...

-ryan s.

[sly]

BAH! fan clutch is dead in the Mark. Lifetime warranty FTW! Project for later this week.

Also have an issue of the vents not working when the car is at temp, but only after it's been shut off... I think I've got some vacuum lines that are slap worn out. Guess I'll get some 1/8" bulk line and end connectors and re-plumb all that mess to the firewall.